WHS downed by Eagles

The Willits High School varsity football team continued to struggle offensively, as they have done all season, and were shut out 40-0 by the Eagles (2-4, 2-1).

The Wolverines (0-6, 0-3) were playing with a new offense, one they had just been introduced to that week. It was the second offense that coach Nick Williamson has used this season, and was only introduced last week after he decided to meet the team half way and try to combine the offense they had used all the previous seasons and the one that he brought with him this season.

"It's a hybrid between the offense that I brought and the offense that they ran," says Williamson. "But it is a lot of the principles so they are more used to it."

Defensively, the Wolverines had some great blocks, however they continue to have tackling issues.

"There is a lot of good effort, but it's just remembering the fundamentals," said Williamson. "Hit, wrap, and hang on."

Tonight Willits hosts Fort Bragg (3-3, 2-1), a game that is sure to be exciting, as is the usually the case when these two rivals go head to head. Fort Bragg was shut out 42-0 two weeks ago by Middletown, but the Timberwolves redeemed themselves last weekend, pulling off a 44-42 victory against Kelseyville (3-3, 0-3).

The jayvee team won its first league game last weekend, beating Cloverdale 28-14. The Wolverines, unlike their previous games so far this season, stayed focused and determined through all four quarters.

"They stayed calm, kept their heads together, didn't get jittery like they did in Clearlake and they were able to consistently pull through," said Williamson.

Will Smith scored two touchdowns for Willits and Justin Thom and Kyle Martinez each had one.?

On the defensive line, Mitchell McKinley and Angel Montoya were a force to be reckoned with, as the pair consistently shut down the Cloverdale offense.

Willits quarterback Blake Leslie threw for two touchdowns, one to Smith and the other to Thom.

The well-deserved win instills some much-needed confidence to the jayvee squad, and they hope to carry the momentum into tonight's game against Fort Bragg.